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Laboratory testing of donor blood is the key point in prevention of hemotransmissive syphilis. The probability of using diagnostic EIA kit RecombiBest antipallidum-strip (AO Vektor-Best, Novosibirsk) is assessed. Ninety-two donor sera were tested. For assessing the sensitivity of the test system, 11 sera of syphilis patients were titrated by double dilutions 1:10 to 1:1280 for each strip. In parallel with this, antibodies to T. pallidum were assessed in the precipitation microtest. EIA proved to be not only highly specific, but more sensitive than precipitation microtest. Antibodies to T. pallidum are detected by EIA in serum dilutions at least two times higher than the minimal titers in the precipitation test. Thus, the above diagnostic kit is recommended for screening of donors of blood and its components.

Data of the histological, ultrastructural and culture cell investigations of bone marrow microenvironment in 20 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are presented. Morphological and functional peculiarities of the patients' bone marrow stroma different from that in healthy subjects were identified. They included distorted histotopographic patterns of stroma-hemopoietic cell-to-cell interaction, obliteration of sinusoid counts, resorption on the sites of internal bone support structures, a changed stromal cells ratio, formation of reticular cell clusters in the subendosteal and perivascular bone marrow areas, fibroid centers, the presence of nuclear bodies in stromal cell nuclei and an intensified proliferation of stromal cell precursors in organ tissue cultures. Morphological and functional changes in bone marrow microenvironment were detected in ALL patients, which could have been caused both by malignant cell clones and stromal defects.

Effect of in vitro exposure to therapeutic He-Ne laser at a wave-length of 630 nm in two modes, 2 and 6 mWt, on the function of blood cells is studied. Exposure to 6 mWt resulted in spontaneous increase of interleukin-1 production by peripheral blood mononuclears. 2 mWt exposure led to increase of erythrocyte deformability and decrease of their viscosity, whereas 6 mWt exposure did not modify these parameters. Laser-effected changes in the production of other cytokines, primarily interleukins 2, 6, and 8, are a perspective trend of research.

A new system for manual-2 plasmocytapheresis from a medical polymer plant ready for use (Medpolymer, St. Petersburg) was evaluated in 15 donors. It makes manual-2 plasmapheresis more efficient, time-saving, and cost-effective. Its also decreases the contamination of blood components and the risk of air embolic complications. Thus, the new system may be recommended for use in transfusion medicine.

The Avicenna test system (St. Petersburg) for detecting antibodies to hepatitis C is assessed. Two-hundred and ten sera with increased SGPT activity and 73 samples seropositive in screening by the Aquapast test system (St. Petersburg) were examined. Avicenna system with 3 synthetic peptides as the test objects is characterized by a higher sensitivity and specificity and is recommended for practical use at blood service institutions.

In the work the factors, rendering essential influence on organization of donorship in modern army conditions are systematized. The organization of donorship should be connected to functioning of territorial system of medical maintenance of the Armed Forces of RF. It assumes presence of four organizational levels: central, district, zone and garrison. Perfecting the system of organization of donorship, we should be guided by the following conducting principles: maximum maintenance of safety of donorship; wide introduction of a method of plasmacytopheresis in work of establishments and subdivisions of blood supply service; organization of autodonorship and quota of the donors of an emergency reserve in each military-medical establishment; reliable maintenance of revealing of markers of hemotransmissible infections at inspection of the donors.

Serological markers of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection has been investigated in 28 patients with infectious endocarditis. In 75% of patients IgM antibodies to "early" antigen of the virus which are the marker of active viral infection occurred vs 6.2% among healthy blood donors. Specific for infectious endocarditis reaction profile (anti-EBV combination in one person) indicates reactivation of latent viral infection. The conclusion is made on the necessity of further investigation of both the role of EBV in pathogenesis of pyoseptic diseases and immunologic mechanisms for reactivation of latent viral infections.

Antibodies to cytomegalovirus class IgG and IgM and level of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in the serum were measured in 81 patients with severe surgical infections. In patients with acute lung abscess TNF level was twice higher and activation of cytomegalovirus infection (specific IgM) was three times more frequent than in patients with infectious endocarditis. The conclusion is made that severe surgical infections inducing progressive immunodeficiency create conditions for activation of latent viral infections, cytomegalovirus, in particular). Recommendations on prevention of hemotransmissible cytomegalovirus infection are presented.

The influence of blood-component therapy on the immune system in cancer patients (non-Hodgkin's lymphoma-33; intestinal adenocarcinoma-15) has been evaluated. Blood transfusions were found to change the activity of such components and factors of the immune system as B-lymphocytes, T-suppressors, tumor necrosis and interleukin-1, without major reactions of antitumor immunity being inhibited. Initial immunological status appeared to be a very important factor of immune processes. It is suggested that leukocyte-free blood alone be used for transfusions since leukocytes are suspected of producing an immuno-suppressive effect.

The spread of IgG antibodies to cytomegalovirus and Toxoplasma in the blood sera of 323 donors of hemocomponents was studied. Among young males in the northwestern region of Russia three fourths were found to be seropositive to cytomegalovirus and one third, to Toxoplasma. In older ages the proportion of seropositive persons somewhat increased. In donors with blood group O (I) antibodies to cytomegalovirus occurred almost twice as often (91%) as in donors with blood group AB (IV) (47%). Among donors with blood group AB (IV) the proportion of persons seropositive to Toxoplasma (54%) was twice as great as that among donors with blood group O (I) (27%).

Three Russian enzyme immunoassay kits for the detection of antibodies to hepatitis D virus (delta virus) in the blood serum were compared. Labsystems test kit was the control. Two of the examined kits were found sufficiently sensitive and specific, comparable with those of the imported agent.

The article describes the new two-stage method of determining of Rh-factor belonging. At the first stage tsoliclon "Anti-D-super" (monoclonic anti-D-antibody class IgM) was used. At the second stage Rh-factor belonging is determined in test-tube, using standard universal reagent for definition Rh-factor RhO (D). Combination of negative results at the first stage with positive ones at the second stage is a sign of partial antigen D, most probably category VI. The persons with partial D are qualified as Rh-positive donors and Rh-negative recipients.

The sensitivities and specificities of enzyme immunoassay (EIA) kits for the detection of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV) were compared in donor blood screening. A total of 3308 donors were examined using Akvapast immunodiagnosticum (St. Petersburg), lot 12. Anti-HCV antibodies were detected in 43 (1.3%) subjects. Blood sera of these donors were additionally investigated using other lots of Akvapast, Hepascan (Bioservice, Moscow), Blot-0.5 (Bioservice, Moscow), and immunoComb (France). The studies demonstrated that none of the agents used can be acknowledged as ideally sensitive and specific for the detection of anti-HCV antibodies. Maximally sensitive diagnostic kits should be preferred for the screening of donors of blood components and for other mass surveys. Highly-specific test systems are advisable for profound examinations and diagnostic monitoring. The creation of a system of reference and expert diagnosis of hepatitis C remains a pressing task.

Integral mathematical analysis of changes in the peripheral blood formula was used in multiple-modality treatment of 19 patients with acute infectious destructions of the lungs and pleura. Extracorporeal methods of hemocorrection were used in the treatment. The leukocytic formula entropy, number of tension signs, degree of adaptation reaction, and leukocytic index of intoxication were assessed. Changes in the analyzed parameters were found to depend on the initial severity of patient's status, type of extracorporeal perfusion, and disease outcome. The authors came to a conclusion about the informative value of mathematical integral parameters which permit outlining the approaches to prediction of the disease outcome and plan individual treatment.

The paper presents the results of investigations into the spectral wall transmission ratio of Compoplast 300 containers, which have been made on a SF-46 spectrophotometer in a wavelength of 190 to 1100 nm. It is concluded that it should be borne in mind the fact that a part of radiation is absorbed by the container walls while developing the photomodification conditions of hemocomponents. The authors emphasize that the manufacture of hemocontainers made from the polymer materials which have a high ultraviolet radiation transmission ratio is very promising.

Examinations of 4457 blood donors (about 80% were men aged 18 to 30) revealed an increased level of serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) in 82 (1.8%). Specific markers of viral hepatitis C were detected in 15.9%, of hepatitis B in 12.0%, of hepatitis D in 2.0%, of hepatitis E in 8.0%, of hepatitis A in 2.0% of sera with high SGPT levels. Mandatory screening of blood donors revealed specific markers of viral hepatitis in 15.9% of cases, additional testing detected these markers in 10.9% cases more. A conclusion is made that an increase of SGPT activity is an independent surrogate marker of viral hepatitis.

The efficacy of specific and substitute markers of hepatitis C was compared in donor blood screening. 2615 blood donors were examined using two EIA kits for detection of HCV antibodies. The presence of nonspecific markers of non-A non-B hepatitis was also checked. 1.3% of the donors were found to carry HCV antibodies. This necessitates donor blood testing for anti-HCV antibodies using EIA. Such measure reduces three-fold the risk of the virus transmission with blood components and preparations. The preference should be given to more sensitive test systems of the second generation, whereas less sensitive, but more specific, test systems are more valuable for accurate diagnosis and treatment effects assessment in HCV infection. It would be appropriate to perform compulsory examinations for HCV infection in medical staff. This will entail efforts on development of the infection diagnostic verification criteria and preventive measures.

The article contains data on viral hepatitis C, its etiological factor, epidemiology, methods of diagnosis and prophylaxis. It's high time to conduct 100% screening control of donors for viral hepatitis C antibody, using national test system of fermental analysis. The authors worked out the method of "dry drop" to study the serum for hepatitis C virus antibody.

As many as 159 patients with pneumonia (all men aged 18-39) were examined. Functional activity of monocytes was studied in an integral test with nitroblue tetrazolium as was nonspecific cellular antiviral resistance by the level of viral damage to the monocytes and lymphocytes. The progression of pneumonia was found to be accompanied by a decrease in the number of phagocytizing mononuclears and the activity of phagocytosis. Nonspecific cellular antiviral resistance is significantly impaired. The proportion of monocytes and lymphocytes containing viral inclusions increases several-fold. The treatment of patients is accompanied by positive dynamics of indicators of functional status of monocytes and nonspecific cellular antiviral resistance. By the time of discharge from hospital the impaired functions of immunocompetent cells fail to completely restore.

Monocyte functional activity and antiviral cellular resistance were studied in the newcomers to the Baikal region from the European Russia. A total of 105 patients with acute respiratory diseases and 30 normal subjects were examined. 46 healthy residents of St. Petersburg made up the reference group. The process of adaptation was found to be associated with changes in the functional activity of the immunocompetent cells. The authors came to a conclusion on the principal role of viral injury of the monocytes in the development of acute bronchitis or pneumonia.

Functional activity of mononuclear phagocytes and antiviral cellular resistance have been examined in 75 patients with acute bronchitis, 159 pneumonia patients and 46 healthy males as shown by intracellular viremia in monocytes and lymphocytes. Progression of acute bronchitis and pneumonia conformed to inhibition of phagocytosis in mononuclear phagocytes, growing percentage of virus-affected monocytes and lymphocytes.

Overall 132 patients at greater risk for pneumonia were examined for functional activity of monocytes and antiviral cellular resistance according to the status of intracellular viremia in monocytes and lymphocytes. The control group included 46 healthy men. Proneness to pneumonia was discovered to be related to abnormal function of mononuclear phagocytes and a decrease of antiviral cellular resistance. The conclusion is made about the necessity of the control over functional activity of monocytes, viremia in immunocompetent cells and advisability of carrying out immunomodulatory and antiviral therapy.

A study of 30 patients suffering of acute pneumonia indicates that the development of acute pneumonia occurs against the background of disorders of the functional activity of monocytes with prevalent reduction of the functional activity of phagocytosis and inhibition of the unspecific cellular antiviral resistance. Leucocytic interferon sharply activates phagocytosis. The number of phagocytic cells and activity of phagocytosis reduced and the number of virus-involved immunocompetent cells increased under the effect of antibiotics.

Antiviral cellular resistance was studied in 32 patients with acute purulent-destructive pulmonary diseases and in 46 normal subjects by determination of monocytes and lymphocytes containing viral inclusions and the coefficient of their viral affection. Parameters of humoral activity and functional monocyte activity were also studied. It has been established that these diseases are attended by the affection of immunocompetent cells which leads to the suppression of their functional activity to reduce anti-infectious cellular defence. Development of an abscess and gangrene in the lung is being investigated taking into consideration not only changes in the quantity of the immunocompetent cells but also the dependence on the degree of their functional activity.

The blood of healthy men and patients with methemoglobinemia of different genesis was incubated with chromosmon, ascorbic acid, riboflavin and glutathione, the percentage of erythrocytes with thorn-shaped protuberances-echinocytes being subsequently determined in the blood smears. The absorbtion spectra at the range 400-650 nm were investigated both in the smooth erythrocytes and in echinocytes. A correlation was found between the percentage of echinocytes and the methemoglobin content in the blood. The methemoglobin amount in the echinocytes was determined to be higher than in the smooth erythrocytes. It is discovered that effects of chromosmon, glutathione and riboflavin on production of methemoglobin depend on the dose, individual peculiarities of erythrocytes and on the illness that caused methemoglobinemia. The calculation of echinocyte percentage may be used as an express-diagnostics of methemoglobinemia and for purposes of studying the effect of methemoglobin-producing substances and drugs.